The Vatican capped a tumultuous year Monday by announcing the resignations of its head spokesman, Greg Burke, and his deputy, the figures most responsible for day-to-day dealings with the media, Washington Post reported.

The statement provided no reason for the departures of Burke and Paloma García Ovejero, but the move magnifies the uncertainty facing the Vatican as it deals with criticism for its slow or opaque responses to the sexual abuse crisis. Over the past year, Pope Francis overhauled much of the Vatican’s sprawling communications office, which includes a newspaper, radio service and publishing house.

But now, ahead of a key global summit addressing the issue of abuse within the church, he will need to fill a new job: somebody who can be a public face for the reeling Roman Catholic Church.

On Twitter, Burke said the resignations would be effective Jan. 1. “At this time of transition in Vatican communications, we think it’s best the Holy Father is completely free to assemble a new team,” Burke wrote.